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The Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to a one-year deal with captain Mats Sundin for $5.5 million. It includes a no-trade clause.

An offical announcement is expected later today.

TSN reported on Monday that the Leafs would have been happy to sign a longer deal, but Sundin pushed for a shorter one.

Sundin's salary cap figure last season was $6.3 million, so Toronto receives a significant savings with this deal. It also gives the Leafs more flexibility beyond 2008 in case Sundin retires after the coming season.

I see this like Forsberg last year. If things don't go well he'll be shopped and it will be up to him if he wants to leave. But $5.5 for a player of the calibre of Sundin for 1 year is perfect, especially with a lot of guys being UFA's next year (namely Thornton, and Heatley)

Very good signing IMO. Sundin is still a point per game player and $5.5M is a reasonable price. I expect him to retire following this upcoming season, particularly if he experiences any injury problems.

Nice contract. Fair price, nice length...well done.

A key to this deal is that Sundin gets paid more than he would have this year, and we save a little bit of cap space

Going back to the next year's FA here's some of the FAs that the Leafs could look at if Sundin were to leave or retire after this year. These are just some of the noteables

If i got some wrong then I apologize

Forwards:

Iginla (UFA)
Thornton (UFA)
Heatley (UFA)
Spezza (RFA)
Kunitz (UFA)
Getzlaf (RFA)
Perry (RFA)
Sakic (UFA)
Wolski (RFA)
Demitra (UFA)
Crosby (RFA)
Marleau (UFA)
M. Michalek (RFA)
Boyes (RFA)
Sundin (UFA)
Naslund (UFA)
Ovechkin (RFA)
Semin (RFA)

Defensemen:

Brian Campbell (UFA)
Phaneuf (RFA)
Liles (UFA)
Norstrom (UFA)
Zubov (UFA)
Lidstrom (UFA)
Boumeester (RFA)
Visnovsky (UFA)
Blake (UFA)
Redden (UFA)
Carle (RFA)
Boyle (UFA)

Goaltending:

Bryzgalov (UFA)
Kiprusoff (UFA)
Huet (UFA)
Fleury (RFA)
Kolzig (UFA)

MAS

Looking at that list...it might mean Joe Thornton may become a Leaf. I don't see Sundin coming back for another year after this one (if the Leafs don't go far). Ferguson beter think long and hard about Thornton.....he'd be the Perfect fit.....he also lives around the T-dot and probably would come at a discount.

BTW....I think Sakic is a UFA this year....not next.

jalenrose#5 wrote:MAS

Looking at that list...it might mean Joe Thornton may become a Leaf. I don't see Sundin coming back for another year after this one (if the Leafs don't go far). Ferguson beter think long and hard about Thornton.....he'd be the Perfect fit.....he also lives around the T-dot and probably would come at a discount.
BTW....I think Sakic is a UFA this year....not next.

Give me a break.

Every single free agent is always mentioned to sign with Toronto for a bargain barrel price just because he is from Ontario or even Toronto. Now this might be the case with guys like Jason Allison or Eric Lindros, but theres no way your going to get a FA player like Joe Thornton for any kind of discount, regardless if your teams name is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Out of all those names Jerome Iginla seems alot more plausible then Joe Thornton.

jalenrose#5 wrote:MAS

Looking at that list...it might mean Joe Thornton may become a Leaf. I don't see Sundin coming back for another year after this one (if the Leafs don't go far). Ferguson beter think long and hard about Thornton.....he'd be the Perfect fit.....he also lives around the T-dot and probably would come at a discount.

BTW....I think Sakic is a UFA this year....not next.

Sakic already signed a one year extension.

I wish Sundin would have taken only $2-3 million say and really help out the team. Maybe then use that money for a winger that can play with him.

I mean, what can an extra $2-3 million buy Sundin that he can't have already with all the millions he's made already. Oh well.

BlueJay_ wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Sakic already signed a one year extension.

What he said

Any lets get this notion out of our heads that they're gonna come here for a discount cause it's not gonna happen. If we have the money and will pay them the money they deserve then they'll come